I have decided that our house guests have to go for my wife’s well being, as she is much more affected by the dynamics than I am. I asked that they get a car with in the next 30 days even if they have to sell their things. He can’t get to work w/out a car. Secondly, I want to set up an exit strategy soon and that they will not be thrown out on the street but to find more appropriate housing for their family and that it will take time to make the applications. I went for a long walk with the dog and thought mostly about this issue as I “saw” the pain in Kay’s eyes.

My son Nick, who has always done the honorable thing is close to losing his home in Mo and that his financial situation is in bad shape. We joked that there should be a bail out program for electricians! Nick said, “…I could get by on $150,000 and don’t need millions.” He has come so far in his life but remains fairly positive in his current condition! He amazes me!  I am cherishing this close time together with my son as he becomes an amazing man of God. I ache for him as I write with tears not far behind. Oh I love him as I see him in pain because no fault of his own. He just wants to work steady and some day find a wife even though he, at age 30, has never dated. What a treasure he would be for the right girl!

Keith in tears

–

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• At first all I seemed to hear is that is ok to be homosexual and that is is not sin. Actually, there is such an open forumn for discussion on this topic, with this group, that the Biggy sin of being gay can be overlooked or taken down a notch or two in favor of the interest of the heart and soul of that person. God does not hate fags, but rather desires a loving relationship with us all.
• Most of the folks there, younger than I, are very tech savvy and invested in some kind of virtual community, at the very least.
• Conversations and discussion was the main thing! In this laborious, slow, but exciting format, people are responding and enjoy a friendly forgotten art form in the church as we know it. Ask the questions!
• These conversations were fun and at times very funny, relieving the tension for the moment of serious topics.
• The young folks there really get it when it comes to living a transformed life in Jesus being the goal rather than being “saved” from hell. According to Jim Henderson, “Heaven is a destination.”
• Another major thought was what the research is saying to believers on how our culture reacts and interfaces with the Christian world. Davin Kinnaman, author of “Unchristian“, kept me widely awake with the disturbing stats.
• The whole atheist thing with Matt Casper and Jim was like an episode of Seinfeld. We laughed at some real issues facing us today and probably remember much more of that discussion as a result of the laughter. I really appreciated that whole “show” of fascinating talk. I definitely want to buy the book, ” Jim and Matt go to church.  The short excerpts from the book were so insightful.
• Todd Hunter brought home experience, theology and history to the discussion. Did you know that in Billy Graham’s day wearing argyle socks and a hand painted tie was close to today’s tattoos and piercings?

Randy Siever, an evangelist by his own accord, showed us how to start simple doable conversations of faith.

All in all it was a great time of meeting new people, finding out where they are from and hearing a small portion of their story. I would highly recconmend an off the map event but don’t leave your brain at home!

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Mat:11. 25-30 the Message-we read the verse together and prayed portions of this passage. Very cool and very simple!

Break and music by The Carey Pearsall Band. Verry Good, check them out!

Jim Henderson and Matt Casper-interview

Is this what Jesus told you guys to do?

a guy selling his soul on ebay-Jim bought it

Matt-band hell Ya, copy writer for Outreach Marketing

Monkeys are cute but are they family?-a postcard he created

I think I am getting tired! There is so much more to tell. This has been a great experience unlike what I have experienced with this kind of group. I am honored to be here as well as being challenged in my faith experience.Check out the links I will post and further updates to this post as I think about it. My personal challenge is to find out where I may fit into this, which is my life long challenge, to belong.

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I am hanging out with Jim Henderson, Todd Hunter, David Kinnaman, Matt Casper, Sally Morgenthaler, Kathy Escobar and others at this two day event.

Todd and Kathy

The church is a secular reality. Billiy Grahm eg.

1940′s liberals and fundamentalists

Charles Fuller

Carl Henry

1947 how can they be the church?

Anchored to the Rock…geared to the times.

Missional Challenge-how to be relevant and the church

Roaring twenties-argyle socks and hand painted tie!

Same as tattoos and peircings today!

ALMOST GOT FIRED…Cliff Barrows showed up to lead worship with a trombone, considered a secular instrument at that time.

Drums in church…jungle rhythms, white people don’t clap on 2nd beat and 4th beat.

Church has to re-invent itself in today’s culture.

The New Atheism

What is “new” about something so ancient?

-they condemn not just belief in God, but respect for belief in God.

-religion itself is destroying humanity.

Davin Kinnaman, according to.

16 to 29 yr olds-unchristian lives of Christians/ biggest impediment!

We cant get away with that anymore-rank Christianity

The Unchristian- buy it

Focus in your own dam famility-bumper sticker in Co Springs-let your lives show it.

We don’t get it anymore, can you just shut up!

The goal of Christianity is not heaven but a transformed life; heaven is the destination.

Things Have Changed! Honduras bridge to no where pic. They were perfect for their time.

Kathy

friends and relationships-what does this mean to me? I do love the church.

Never set out to be a pastor. Funnel in faith was wide became narrow. Began to lose what I thought was my life. Women issues, stay home, etc.  Ten years later, I became one of them. It used to work for me.

by Judy Syfers (1971)

(Editors Note: This classic piece of feminist humor appeared in the premier issue of Ms. Magazine and was widely circulated in the women’s movement.)

I belong to that classification of people known as wives. I am A Wife.

And, not altogether incidentally, I am a mother. Not too long ago a male friend of mine appeared on the scene fresh from a recent divorce. He had one child, who is, of course, with his ex-wife. He is looking for another wife. As I thought about him while I was ironing one evening, it suddenly occurred to me that I too, would like to have a wife. Why do I want a wife?

I would like to go back to school so that I can become economically independent, support myself, and if need be, support those dependent upon me. I want a wife who will work and send me to school. And while I am going to school I want a wife to take care of my children. I want a wife a wife to keep track of the children’s doctor and dentist appointments. And to keep track of mine, too. I want a wife to make sure my children eat properly and are kept clean. I want a wife who will wash the children’s clothes and keep them mended. I want a wife who is a good nurturing attendant to my children, who arranges for their schooling, makes sure that they have an adequate social life with their peers, takes them to the park, the zoo, etc. I want a wife who takes care of the children when they are sick, a wife who arranges to be around when the children need special care, because, of course, I cannot miss classes at school. My wife must arrange to lose time at work and not lose the job. It may mean a small cut in my wife’s income from time to time, but I guess I can tolerate that. Needless to say,  my wife will arrange and pay for the care of the children while my wife is working.

I want a wife who will take care of my physical needs. I want a wife who will keep my house clean. A wife who will pick up after my children, a wife who will pick up after me. I want a wife who will keep my clothes clean, ironed, mended, replaced when need be, and who  will see to it that my personal things are kept in their proper place so that I can find what I need the minute I need it. I want a wife who cooks the meals, a wife who is a good cook. I want a wife who will plan the menus, do the necessary grocery shopping, prepare the meals,serve them pleasantly, and then do the cleaning up while I do my studying. I want a wife who will care for me when I am sick and sympathize with my pain and loss of time from school. I want a wife to go along when our family takes a vacation so that someone can continue care for me and my when I need a rest and change of scene. I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling complaints about a wife’s duties. But I want a wife who will listen to me when I feel the need to explain a rather difficult point I have come across in my course of studies. And I want a wife who will type my papers for me when I have written them.

I want a wife who will take care of the details of my social life. When my wife and I are invited out by my friends, I want a wife who take care of the baby-sitting arrangements. When I meet people at school that I like and want to entertain, I want a wife who will have the house clean, will prepare a special meal, serve it to me and my friends, and not interrupt when I talk about things that interest me and my friends. I want a wife who will have arranged that the children are fed and ready for bed before my guests arrive so that the children do not bother us. I want a wife who takes care of the needs of my quests so that they feel comfortable, who makes sure that they have an ashtray, that they are passed the hors d’oeuvres, that they are offered a second helping of the food, that their wine glasses are replenished when necessary, that their coffee is served to them as they like it. And I want a wife who knows that sometimes I need a night out by myself.

I want a wife who is sensitive to my sexual needs, a wife who makes love passionately and eagerly when I feel like it, a wife who makes sure that I am satisfied. And, of course, I want a wife who will not demand sexual attention when I am not in the mood for it. I want a wife who assumes the complete responsibility for birth control, because I do not want more children. I want a wife who will remain sexually faithful to me so that I do not have to clutter up my intellectual life with jealousies. And I want a wife who understands that my sexual needs may entail more than strict adherence to monogamy. I must, after all, be able to relate to people as fully as possible.

If, by chance, I find another person more suitable as a wife than the wife I already have, I want the liberty to replace my present wife with another one. Naturally, I will expect a fresh, new life; my wife will take the children and be solely responsible for them so that I am left free.

When I am through with school and have a job, I want my wife to quit working and remain at home so that my wife can more fully and completely take care of a wife’s duties.

My God, who wouldn’t want a wife?

I, Keith, read this at WKU while in a composition class. It made me think then.

It’s not right, from Karl. The goal is for men and women to work together in the church.

Mekesha from Ft Collins. I wanted God to be more like my dad. She became much more vocal about issues.

Doable Evangelism-Randy Seiver

-The problem w/ evangelism

-is you (as goes) or implied

-undoable approach is the problem

-do it authentically/ 10% interested in evangelism

-Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybils/ doable evangelism

-Mark Middleberg/ thinker

-dont like making your friends a project

Just Watch Across the Room-Randy Seiver

Off the Map-uncharted territory! we want people just to show up.

-Every one should be able to play/ not just the gifted. conversion centric

-conversional to conversational/ a paradigm shift.

_ It is not a conversional pitch. Not just the Four Spiritual Laws.

-Proclamation is how

Our Little Idea

-spirital prctice

1 noticing-take a moment to focus on some one else

David Kinnaman

-

Working definition of evangelism= verbal proclamation(past) leading to conversion.

1 noticing

2 prayer- pray for person you noticed. prompting of the spirit.

3 Listening-how are you/ the person matters to you now. Not telling.

Do what’s doable!

We don’t have to be weird and unnormal. Should like T ball.

Let’s celebrate the ordinary attempt!

David Kinnaman

-what do people think about Christians

sometimes the critics are right

Judgmental 87%

Anti homosexual 91%

Hypocritical 85%

Too Political 75 %

Sheltered 78 %

Proselytizers 70 %

We want simple solutions to complex problems!

We are having less and less influence on those that need it the most.

3 % favorable view of Christians 16 to 29 yrs old

66 % committed to Jesus but no BWV for over 40-superficial

57 % under age 40

83 % say they are christian

40 % not christian under 40, 25% over 40

power shift

How do we change culture?

60 % legalize chrisianity/ 10 % have prayed homosexual problem

Opportunities

spiritual entrepreneurs

Mike Foster-porn talk

Cathrine Rohr-prison program

James Tworkowski

Davin Flaig

Tim McMahan-ex Mormon blog

Kingdom Imagination

common good+rescuers+conversational + imago dei

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